Turkish Cypriot dailies over the weekend focus on Piri Reis ?Turkey's
seismic research ship- sailing from Izmir in order to conduct oil
research in the Mediterranean, Eroglu's proposals in the meeting he had
with the UN Secretary General and statements by Erdogan, Davutoglu and
Yildiz in favour of Eroglu's proposals. Today's Turkish Cypriot press
also covers Eroglu's statements upon his return to the occupied area,
Kucuk stating that the water project will be completed by March 2014,
Turkey's EU Minister who is expected to arrive in the occupied area
today evening, Ozgurgun announcing that "they will soon start drilling"
and a tenders call regarding the restoration of Othello's tower and the
Venetian walls of occupied Famagusta.

Statements by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to members of the
press on his way back from New York where he attended United Nations
General Assembly, the evaluation of the proposal by the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu from Erdogan, Taner Yildiz Turkish Minister of
Energy and Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, statements by
CHP's leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu about Piri Reis' bad condition and news
that F16 planes may be deployed in occupied Cyprus and other internal
issues are some of the main stories covered by today's Turkish dailies.

[01] Eroglu: We will do whatever we want on the issue of oil and
natural gas

Under the title "'We will do whatever we want'", Turkish Cypriot daily
Kibris (26.09.11) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu
has argued that the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) will carry out
exploration for oil and natural gas on behalf of the "TRNC", breakaway
regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, within the scope
of the "agreement" of delimiting the "continental shelf" between Turkey
and the breakaway regime.

In statements yesterday at the illegal Tymbou airport upon his return
from New York, Eroglu alleged the following: "Taking as starting point
the reality that we have rights on the undersea wealth in the area
all around the island from the south to the north, we have proved the
reality that on the issue of these explorations as well, we could give
permission for any area we wish and to any company we wish".

Eroglu reiterated that the Turkish Cypriot side had warned the Greek
Cypriots before they started the exploration for oil and natural gas,
but the latter did not took into consideration the Turkish warning. He
claimed that the Greek Cypriots realized that these warnings were serious
after the signing of the "agreement" between Turkey and the breakaway
regime on the issue of delimiting their "continental shelf".

Eroglu claimed that it is not possible to take into account the assurance
given by President Christofias that the natural wealth of Cyprus will
be shared with the Turkish Cypriots. He added, however, that with this
statement, President Christofias admitted the reality that the Turkish
Cypriots have also rights on the undersea wealth of Cyprus.

Referring to the view of the Turkish Cypriot "opposition" that he had
no authority to sign such an "agreement" with Turkey, Eroglu said that
according to the "constitution" of the breakaway regime, the "president"
is the head of the "state" and has the authority to sign "agreements",
but these "agreements" should be approved by the "parliament". He
noted that the "agreement" he has signed in New York with Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan on the issue of delimiting their "continental shelf"
is an "international agreement" and therefore it should pass from the
"assembly" of the regime. He noted that the day after the signing of this
"agreement", its text was sent to the "government" and added that the
"prime minister" conveyed this text to the "speaker" of the "parliament"
and met with the political party leaders.

Eroglu said that in spite of the signing of this "agreement" with
Turkey, he submitted a written proposal with four points to the UN
Secretary?General [on the issue of the explorations for oil and natural
gas]. He said that he told to the UN Secretary-General that they exert
efforts in the direction of the continuation of the negotiations and
they will continue the mission they put forward in the Geneva meeting.

Eroglu alleged that they [the Turkish side] show flexibility sometimes
for the continuation of the negotiations and noted that in the beginning
they did not want to discuss issues such as the territory, the property,
the citizenship and the map, but afterwards they discussed these issues
and submitted their own proposals. Eroglu said that they proposed that
the territory should be the last issue of discussion and that this could
be done at four-party or a five-party summit. Eroglu reiterated that the
Turkish side will take a step backwards on the issue of oil and natural
gas, if the Greek Cypriot side do the same.

Responding to a question, Eroglu said that "big reserves" of natural gas
and oil were established around Cyprus during the explorations and that
it is even said that these reserves are enough for hundreds of years.

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.09.11), Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu met the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
in New York on Saturday.

Following the meeting, Eroglu told reporters that they discussed the
Cyprus talks as well as recent developments regarding oil and natural
gas exploration in the Mediterranean which, as he claimed, was directly
related with the Cyprus talks.

Noting that they presented a new proposal including four topics to Ban
within that scope, Eroglu claimed that the proposal was presented to
the UN as a way of solution to the problem regarding Cyprus' efforts to
explore oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean.

Listing the topics, Eroglu said: "1. Let's suspend the oil and natural
gas exploration simultaneously until a comprehensive solution is found
to the Cyprus problem.

2. If this is not going to happen, then we shall set up an ad-hoc
committee shaped by representatives of both peoples. We shall give
some authorities to the committee such as: explorations, agreements and
licences depend on written approval of both sides, and we will negotiate
the ratio of sharing the richness which will be found.

3. We shall use the income to finance the comprehensive talks.

4. Adoption of the plan shall not harm the positions of both sides."

Eroglu alleged that Ban was pleased with the proposal.

When asked whether the "TRNC [breakaway regime] could give authorization
to explore oil and natural gas only for the north of the island after
signing the agreement on the delineation of continental shelf with
Turkey", Eroglu said that the "Turkish Cypriots had rights on all
underwater wealth around Cyprus island and so the TRNC had the right to
give authorization both north and the south of the island".

When asked how this process would affect the intensified Cyprus talks,
Eroglu said that "TRNC wanted to pursue talks", adding that the talks
would continue on Tuesday. Eroglu then held a bilateral meeting with
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Moreover, A.A. (25.09.11) reported that Eroglu, speaking to reporters
on Sunday, denied the postponement of a tripartite Cyprus meeting which
will be held in New York in October.

Eroglu told that the tripartite summit, which would be held between the
Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders and the UN in New York at the end of
October, would not be postponed due to the oil exploration crisis in
the Mediterranean.

Noting that there were large reserves, especially natural gas, around
Cyprus, Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side earlier asked the
Cyprus Government to delay oil exploration as Cyprus talks were under way,
but the Greek Cypriots did not respond, and they began oil exploration.

Regarding the tripartite summit, Eroglu said that it would be a one-day
summit, adding that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sincerely supported
an agreement.

Meanwhile, illegal Bayrak television (online, 25.09.11) reported that
Eroglu, who had been holding a series of contacts on the sideline of
the 66th regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York, visited
also the Islamic Cultural Centre, which is known for its important work
on inter-religious dialogue.

He received information about the activities of the Centre during his
meeting with the Centre's chairperson Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

During the meeting, the Imam expressed the hope that the Cyprus talks
will be completed with a successful outcome and the Turkish Cypriots
will live in prosperity.

For his part, Eroglu praised the Imam for his contribution to
inter-religious friendship and invited him to the occupied area of the
Republic of Cyprus.

Also on Sunday, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz
announced that Turkey was building a national seismic ship for oil and
gas explorations, and that the country might purchase a drilling platform
if need arises. If the data we gather tells us we need to buy an oil
platform, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation [TPAO] could buy a platform
worth $1.5 billion. It is not an easy acquisition but it is possible,'
Y1ld1z told reporters. He also added that the TRNC [breakaway regime]
would not cut down on the electricity it has been providing for the
Greek Cypriots since a blast munitions dump that put down the major
power source of the country. 'We have nothing against the people of
Greek Cyprus [government controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus],
we will not abuse their soft spot,' Y1ld1z said.

To reach a consensus on the drilling debate, the TRNC submitted a
four-step proposal to the United Nations on Saturday, regarding the
management of the crisis that has emerged out of gas and oil exploration
in contested territories. (?) Eroglu handed over the proposal to UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a private meeting between the two
officials, the Anatolia news agency reported.

(?)

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Eroglu's move on
Sunday, as he told reporters on his flight from New York that it was a
fair proposal. 'If they actually do discover hydrocarbon sources, the
income [to be obtained from extraction] could go to a fund monitored
by the UN, and shared through fair methods on condition that the money
cannot be used for purchasing arms.'

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier stressed that Turkey
strongly supported the proposal at a press session held after a meeting
he had with Eroglu following Eroglu's session with Ban. 'It is a very
constructive proposal. ?We believe it will prevent the current crisis
from developing further and create a positive atmosphere,' Davutoglu
was quoted as saying by Anatolia on Saturday."

[04] Erdogan: "Turkey now needs to show its presence in the Mediterranean,
and it will do so"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again spoke to members of the
press he invited on his plane on the way back from New York to answer
their questions and share his assessments.

(?)

He said the fact that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was
striking places nearly every day and causing a rise in the number of
dead soldiers was inevitably more important than what went on in New York.

(?)

Another striking and novel aspect of the conversation was news of
sanctions being prepared against Syria. 'We [made] no decisions to
[implement] sanctions against Syria until now. We only took some measures
regarding the airspace to control arms traffic; that is all. Soon, I will
be paying a visit to the Hatay camp and sanctions will begin after that,'
he said but gave no further details.

(?)

I inquired about the chilling relations with Greek Cyprus [Republic of
Cyprus], Syria and Israel. I said the impression that Turkey was flexing
its muscles was gaining in strength among the international public and
asked whether he was discomforted by this. He is not discomforted at all.

'Turkey now needs to show its presence in the Mediterranean, and it
will do so. We are going to increase our military strength. However,
it is Cyprus and Israel that are pushing us on this matter,' he said.

Thus speaks the Prime Minister, but Turkey's image, both internal and
external, is increasingly causing scepticism and worry.

"The vessel is expected to reach the research area in the afternoon and
it will begin seismic studies there," Benli told an AA correspondent.

[06] Yildiz said that the Turkish Navy will escort Piri Reis, if necessary

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.09.11), Turkish Energy and
Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters on Saturday that
Turkey was closely following the activities of the Government of the
Republic of Cyprus.

Asked whether the Turkish Navy was escorting Piri Reis, Yildiz said
that the Navy would escort if necessary, adding that the Turkish Foreign
Ministry planned each step earlier.

Turkey's oil exploration vessel Piri Reis continues on its route towards
the East Mediterranean. Named after worldwide famous Ottoman captain,
geographer and cartographer Piri Reis, the vessel sailed off from the Urla
Port in the western province of Izmir on Friday for East Mediterranean
to explore for oil and natural gas.

[07] Kilicdaroglu said that the Piri Reis is an old ship unable to do
its job- Milliyet reports that the ship did not have its engine and
generator replaced

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.09.11) reported that Kemal
Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP)
of Turkey, criticized the policy followed by the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP) as regards the Republic of Cyprus exploration
for oil and natural gas. He also criticized the decision of using the
Koca Piri Reis vessel to conduct the necessary seismic surveys (examining
beneath the sea floor) for oil drilling.

Kilicadoroglu, who made statements at the Esenboga airport, was replying
to journalists' questions on the issue.

Describing the AKP policy as "a total surrender", Kilicdaroglu stated
that the Piri Reis vessel is an old ship that cannot do the "job".

"In order to do our job we put out (to sail off) Piri Reis, a vessel
which was left to us from the very past, a German ship which dated of
the time of our grandparents", stated and added that it is clear that
this job cannot be done.

In addition, under the title: "It took off without having its engine
replaced", Turkish Milliyet (24.09.11) reported that Koca Piri Reis,
which is a 33-year old ship, sailed off in order to conduct a two-week
seismic survey for oil drilling in the Mediterranean Sea.

In statements to Milliyet, Professor Dr Huseyin Avni Benli, Director of
the Department of Marine Sciences and Technology at Dokuz Eylul (Nine
September) University (DEU), stated that Piri Reis, which was built at
the Schiffweft Diedrich Oldersum Shipyard in 1976, was one of the most
modern vessels of its kind at that time.

However, with the passing of time, its technology became obsolete. Due
to this, the university applied to the State Planning Organization (DPT)
for money to fix the ship. DPT replied that this year the ship will
be overhauled and will be supplied with modern technology. In order
to do so, the ship needed a new engine and a new generator. However,
because the VAT for the engine, which cost one million Turkish Lira,
was too high to be paid, the engine remained at the customs office and
the ship did not have its engine replaced.

[08] The full text of the illegal agreement between Turkey and the
breakaway regime on delimiting their "continental shelf"

Under the title: "Here is the full text of the Continental Shelf
Agreement between the TRNC and Turkey", Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Duzen
(24.09.11) published the full text of the "agreement" between Turkey and
the breakaway regime on delimiting their "continental shelf" as signed by
the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish Cypriot
leader Dervis Eroglu during their recent meeting in New York. The text
is the following:

"The government of the Republic of Turkey and the government of the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which from now on will be referred
to as contracting parties,

Acting with wish to deepen and broaden their existing good neighbouring
and friendly relations,

Wishing to establish the borders of the areas regarding their continental
shelf in the Mediterranean Sea where they use their sovereign rights
with the aim of exploring and exploiting the natural resources of the
continental shelf of the sides,

Accepting that the delimitation of their continental shelf should be
made according to the principles of justice taking into consideration
their wish to achieve just and mutually accepted solutions within the
spirit of constructive negotiations and good neighbourhood,

Have agreed on the following matters taking into consideration the
relevant principles and rules of the international law:

ARTICLE 1

The border of the continental shelf between the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea
passes from the points the coordinates of which are determined below:

1. 35-33-09.584N 32-16-18.000E

2. 35-33-41.913N 32-21-12.349E

3. 35-33-47.278N 32-31-50.801E

4. 35-35-38.364N 32-37-51.980E

5. 35-37-58.043N 32-46-34.195E

6. 35-39-53.677N 32-56-36.616E

7. 35-40-59.868N 33-02-50.096E

8. 35-40-55.189N 33-10-19.709E

9. 35-41-19.465N 33-19-40.157E

10. 35-40-58.546N 33-23-18.544E

11. 35-41-14.617N 33-32-33.838E

12. 35-41-45.874N 33-38-16.025E

13. 35-42-04.417N 33-45-08.528E

14. 35-42-29.670N 33-53-00.873E

15. 35-43-50.531N 34-02-48.043E

16. 35-45-06.627N 34-06-06.897E

17. 35.45.44.498N 34-10-13.085E

18. 35-48-11.903N 34-14-21.393E

19. 35-49-46.780N 34-18-51.643E

20. 35-51-41.517N 34-24-51.492E

21. 35-52-57.081N 34-28-43.550E

22. 35-54-25.608N 34-33-30.506E

23. 35-54-42.208N 34-36-28.498E

24. 35-54-06.978N 34-40-56.920E

25. 35-52-55.052N 34-44-01.021E

26. 35-51-19.934N 34-46-40.603E

27. 35.49.09.889N 34-48-51.634E

As mentioned above, the contracting parties have agreed on the issue of
determining the line delimiting their continental shelf until the point
at the coordinates 35-49-09.889K and 34-48-51.634D in the east and the
point 35-33-09.584K and 32-16-18D in the west.

They agreed also on the issue of conducting the delimitation towards
the east of the point 35-49-09.889K and 34-48-51.634D, which is east
of these coordinates, and towards the west of the point 35-33-09.584K
and 32-16-18D, which is in the west, as well as the drawing of the line
further than this through future agreements with the parties concerned
according to the rules of the international law and the principles
of justice.

ARTICLE 2

The border line of the continental shelf between the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Turkey, the coordinates of which
are mentioned above, has been also shown in the naval map number TR30,
which was published on 12 April 2008 and constitutes an inseparable part
of this agreement.

The geographic coordinates mentioned in this agreement were noted as
WGS 84.

ARTICLE 3

In case reserves of natural resources are established in the sea bed or
under the ground of the continental shelf in a manner that it enters
into the continental shelf of both sides on the border established in
Article 1 of this agreement, the contracting parties will carry out
discussions in order to jointly determine the issue of how this reserve
will be exploited in the most effective manner.

ARTICLE 4

This agreement will not damage the legitimate, equal and inseparable
rights of the Turkish Cypriots on the entire continental shelf of the
island. The contracting parties will continue their efforts for finding
a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue.

ARTICLE 5

In case of a discrepancy on the issue of the interpretation and the
implementation of this agreement, this discrepancy will be solved though
negotiations with diplomatic means or other peaceful methods which will
be based on the common consent of the sides.

ARTICLE 6

This agreement will enter into effect as of the date of the exchange
of the certificates of proof after it is approved by the states which
are part of the agreement. This agreement was prepared in New York on
21 September 2011 in two copies in the Turkish language".

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (25.09.11), self-styled minister
of foreign affairs Huseyin Ozgurgun alleged that the "Greek Cypriot
administration [Cyprus Government] did not have a legal right to begin
oil and natural gas exploration unilaterally".

Ozgurgun also said that required coordinates were set and drilling for
oil would soon begin in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

Ozgurgun said on Sunday that Turkey's seismic vessel Piri Reis was on its
route, adding that coordinates, which were required to start exploration
in the north of the island, were set.

"If the Greek Cypriot administration [Cyprus Government] sees the Turkish
Cypriots as a minority in the island and makes exploration unilaterally,
then Turkish Cypriots can begin exploration in the north of the island",
Ozgurgun claimed.

He alleged that the "Greek Cypriot administration's stance would affect
the Cyprus talks' process too".

According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 24.09.11), self-styled
minister of agriculture and natural resources Ali Cetin Amcaoglu, speaking
on "Bayrak", said that the so-called department of geology and mineral
resources has the authority to issue "licensing" for oil and natural gas
exploration. However, he added, the so-called council of ministers had
issued the exploration "license" to the Turkish Petroleum Corporation
(TPAO) due to the importance of the issue in the international arena. He
said that the "license" was issued only for exploration purposes and
not for extraction or processing.

He also said that the "exploration license" issued to the TPAO was a
component part of the "continental shelf delineation agreement" signed
between the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and the Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York.

Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (24.09.11) writes that ships of the Turkish
naval forces will escort the Koca Piri Reis vessel on its seismic surveys
for oil drilling in the Mediterranean and reports that, if necessary,
F-16 planes may be deployed in occupied Cyprus.

The paper writes that Turkey is planning to deploy one or two F-16 in
occupied Cyprus, due to the flights that Israel may conduct in order to
protect the platform for the oil drilling.

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (24.09.11) reported that the former
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was a guest in Serhat Incirli's TV
show in Kibris TV. Talat commenting on the ongoing negotiations he said
that "if Eroglu wants a solution, then Talat is an astronaut." Referring
also to the research of carbohydrates that Turkey will start, he argued
that no one really knows where they will research, not even the so-called
prime minister Kucuk.

Moreover, he evaluated the recent "delineation agreement" between
Turkey and the "TRNC" and said that it is the first time that he heard
of such an agreement. He said that he is aware of the delineation of
an exclusive economic zone and questioned whether the continental shelf
can be "delineated." Also during an interview to Turkish Cypriot daily
Yeni Duzen (24.09.11) he said that if this "agreement" refers to the
area between Turkey's south and Cyprus' north shores, as defining the
area where each side can utilize the natural wealth, then it should be
called an "EEZ delineation agreement".

Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (26.09.11) reports that Turkey's European
Union (EU) Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, will visit the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus tonight.

According to information acquired by TAK's correspondent, Bagis is
expected to deliver a speech at the illegal Eastern Mediterranean
University (DAU) on the occasion of the launching of the new academic
year 2011-2012. The title of his speech will be "The future of Europe
and the role of Cyprus".

According to the paper, Bagis is also expected to carry out several
contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus.

According to Ankara Anatolia news agency (24.09.11), self-styled prime
minister Irsen Kucuk said on Saturday that the "TRNC's [breakaway
regime] image would change with the water that will come from Turkey
via pipelines". He claimed that the water will reach the island on March
7, 2014.

He noted that Turkey already reserved the cost of the project, which
was 450 million USD, and there would not be any delay in the project.

Kucuk said that the breakaway regime would receive 75 million cubic meters
of water from Turkey annually, adding that 35-40 million cubic meters
would be distributed to houses and the rest would be used for agriculture.

[15] New plan to "legalise" Turkish settlers and immigrants in the
occupied area

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (26.09.11) reports that the breakaway
regime's "administration" decided to steer away from the "white card/
green card legislation" that they were preparing. The so-called minister
of interior and local administration Nazim Cavusoglu announced that
for the time being the issue has been "put on the self." He said that
the issue was taken out of their agenda and instead now they focus on
"pardon."

Cavusoglu said that very shortly there will be a pardon, which thousands
of people are waiting. Also he said that in today's session of the
breakaway's regime "assembly" they plan to present urgently their
"draft" for battling the issue of people who live and work illegally
in the occupied area. If the plan is approved today, it will be placed
under vote next Monday and upon implementation, the interested persons
will be able to use the pardon for a period of 3 months. Those who wish
to be pardoned and remain in the occupied area will pay a fine equal to
the minimum wage, whereas the ones who wish to leave, will pay a penalty
up to half the amount of the minimum wage.

Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris (26.09.11) reports that on the 15th
of November, the founding stone of illegal GAU's "Karpasia Campus" will
be laid in occupied Karpasia. The founding rector and board director of
"Girne American University (GAU)" announced that the foundation ceremony
of the 25 thousand sq. metre campus is scheduled to take place on
November 15, the same day with the anniversary of the breakaway regime's
"establishment."

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (25.09.11) reported that "officials" of the
so-called "hunting centre" which is bound to the "TRNC hunting federation"
arrested yesterday morning five Greek Cypriots after they were found
cutting down trees in the occupied Agia Trias village in occupied Trikomo.

According to the paper, the names of the five Greek Cypriots are:
Giannis P. Fragkou, Giannis Varnava, Giannis C. Fragkou, Charalambos
Fragkou and Themistoklis Fragkou.

The paper adds that the "officials" of the so-called "forest department"
and the "police officers" of the "Leonarissos police station" who
arrived in the area arrested the five Greek Cypriots and seized the
timber machines being used for the cutting of the trees and two cars
(vans) that were used for carrying the trees.

Turkish daily Today's Zaman (online, 25.09.11) with the above title
published, inter alia, the following article by Emine Kart:

"This week's signing of a continental shelf delimitation agreement between
Turkey and the TRNC [breakaway regime] has made the headlines, which
claim it is a bold move that has escalated the tension between Ankara
and Greek Cyprus [Republic of Cyprus] over offshore gas exploration in
the Eastern Mediterranean.

Yet, despite seeing eye-to-eye on the fact that the agreement constitutes
a political declaration by Turkey in defending the Turkish Cypriots'
rights to the end, experts speaking with Sunday's Zaman haven't drawn a
clear picture in regards to what the concrete results of the agreement
will be, at least in the short run.

Cagri Erhan, a professor of international relations from the faculty of
sciences at Ankara University, first of all underlined that according
to the Constitution, this agreement needs to be ratified by the Turkish
Parliament.

'If not ratified, it has no meaning. In the current situation, this is
a political reaction aimed at showing the seriousness of Turkey to the
Greek Cypriots,' Erhan told Sunday's Zaman.

'The continental shelf is anyhow a right recognized by international
law without any further arrangement. An exclusive economic zone [EEZ]
agreement between Turkey and the TRNC would be much more effective in
terms of its results,' Erhan said. Turkey has decided to begin its own
gas exploration in the Eastern Mediterranean and to boost its military
presence in the region after the Greek Cypriot Government vowed to go
ahead with its plans to drill for gas in Cyprus' south.

Greek Cyprus marked out its EEZ following agreements with Egypt, Israel
and Lebanon to delineate undersea borders.

'Legally, the hand of Greek Cyprus is very strong since it has taken
necessary steps in regards to setting its EEZ very firmly. Turkey
should also start a similar legal process by signing EEZ agreements,'
Erhan argued, although noting that in the current situation it would be
difficult for Turkey to draw a clear perspective in the Mediterranean
due to Turkey's problems with coastal states such as Israel and Syria.

(?)

Mehmet Hasguler, an assistant professor at the 'European University of
Lefke' in the TRNC, is convinced that the deal between Turkey and the
TRNC is a step in the right direction, although it should have been
taken earlier.

'The fundamental concern for signing this agreement is a political
declaration by Ankara. Since it is not internationally recognized, the
TRNC is not within the international legal bodies. But it is recognized
by Turkey, which is trying to take the TRNC under the protection of
international law by signing such an agreement,' Hasguler told Sunday's
Zaman, while suggesting that the continental shelf agreement was actually
a veiled declaration of an EEZ, too.

When asked whether Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots might be blamed for
stalling the UN-led reunification negotiation process by this agreement,
Hasguler said: 'It was Greek Cyprus that ignored the negotiation process
and the rights of the Turkish Cypriot side from the beginning; nobody
can put the blame on Turkey.'

(?)

Cigdem Naz, of the international relations department at Yildiz Technical
University, argues that the cause of today's problem lies with the fact
that Greek Cyprus was admitted into the EU in 2004 before a solution
was reached regarding the political status on the island.

'This is just a follow-up to the problem that goes back to 2004. The
problem will escalate when Greek Cyprus assumes the presidency next
year. By that time both sides on the island need to come up with a
solution, which will in turn solve the resource debate as well,' Naz
told Sunday's Zaman.

'Turkey is the only country that recognizes the TRNC, so the shelf
agreement may not be very meaningful to other countries. But Greek
Cypriots have also been engaged in the drills unilaterally, causing a
threat to Turkish sovereign rights in the region, and in that sense the
Turkish move might be interpreted as an apt response to that. Turkey has
the right to protect the TRNC's rights under its status as a guarantor
state. Such a move from a guarantor state also indicates that Turkey
wants to show Greek Cyprus that it is not the sole authority in the
region. This looks like a controlled escalation of the tension, which
will hopefully be resolved in the negotiation process between the Greek
and Turkish communities of the island,' she said. 'Greek Cyprus
is a country Turkey does not officially recognize, so its presidency in
2012 will be ripe with trouble from all sides. Greeks and Turks of the
island do not look like they are speeding up the reunification process,
but a new political solution is a must to counter the fallout of this
resource debate,' Naz, nevertheless, maintained."
TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio